Method of making sheet-metal hames.



I %fve3.s In 06/? 5 r 0. L. WIBDRIGH. METHUD OF MAKING SHEET METALHAMES.

APPLIGATIOK IILED JULY 25, 1912. 1,098,928, Patented June 2, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH Bil-,WASXjINQTON D e G. L. WIEDRIOH. METHOD 0;MAKING SHEET METAL HAMES.

APPLIUQATION FILED JULY 25, 1912. 1,098,928, Patented June 2, 1914.

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7792 2766565. Q 17706172 291. M4, ff/xumz m a; 7%M jfz farne a UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. WIEIDRICH, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO U. S. HAMECOMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF MAKING SHEET-METAL HAMES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1914.

Application filed July 25, 1912. Serial No. 711,458.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. Wrnpnron, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bufialo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Making Sheet- MetalHames, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference more particularly to sheet metal hames ofthe type in which the hame is formed from a single piece or blank ofsheet metal, and the ob ject of this invention is to improve, simplifyand cheapen the process of manufacture and construction of hames of thistype, and to produce a neat appearing, strong and desirable hame whichwill resemble a wooden hame in size,weight and general appearance butwill be much stronger and more durable and can be more economicallymanufactured.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets: Figure 1 is aplan view of the metal blank from which the hame embodying the inventionis formed. Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof after the holes for the wearleather and the beads or corrugations for the outer face of the hamehave been stamped therein. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blankbent into U-shape in crosssection by the first forming operation. Fig. iis an enlarged cross-section thereof in line 4-4, Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the wooden core for the hame. Fig. 6 is a plan viewof the hame showing the edges of the blank partially bent over thewooden core by the second operation. Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectionthereof on line 77, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showingthe edges of the blank closed upon the core by the third operation. Fig.9 is an enlarged cross-section thereof in line 9-9, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 isanenlarged cross section in line 10-10, Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a longitudinalsectional View through the die for bending the hame lengthwise, showingthe hame in rear elevation. Fig. 12 is a front elevation of thecompleted hame. Fig. 18 is a fragmentary longitudinal section throughthe hame strap attachment. Fig. 14: is a cross-section in line let-14,Fig. 12.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

In general terms the hame of this invention consists of a hollow sheetmetal shell or body which contains a solid core of wood or othersuitable material extending substantlally throughout its length whichfills the shell conforming to its shape. The shell is formed from asingle piece or blank of sheet metal, which by suitable dies in severalsuccessive operations, is shaped to embrace the wooden core and toconform to the usual shape of a Wooden hame.

A represents a flat piece or blank of sheet metal from which the hame isformed. This blank is of the form shown in Fig. 1, being of somewhatgreater width in its central portion and having curved side edges whichtaper slightly toward their opposite ends, one end of the blank beingprovided with a lateral ear or extension a. In this blank, while stillfiat, are stamped holes a a for the tacks or screws which secure theusual wear leather to the hame, and beads or corrugations a a whichextend lengthwise of the blank, substantially parallel with its sideedges, and converge at their opposite ends to meet in points at a shortdistance from the opposite ends of the hame. When the blank is formedinto a hame, these corrugations serve to add materially to theappearance of the outer or front face of the hame, breaking the smoothcontour of this outer face and giving it the appearance of beingprovided with a central panel portion. These corrugations also serve tosomewhat stiffen the outer face of the hame.

The blank A is placed between suitable dies and bent into trough orU-shape, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A core 13 is then laid in thisU-shaped blank. This core, which is preferably of wood, is shaped incross-section to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the hame whencompleted, and extend substantially the entire length of the blank. Itis provided at intervals throughout its length with kerfs Z) which arecutin the side edges thereof so as to permit the core to be readily bentlongitudinally in forming the hame as will be hereinafter explained."With the core in place, the U-shaped blank is subjected to a furtheroperation between suitable dies which bend the side edges of the blanktoward each other to partially inclose the core as shown in Figs. 6 and7; and after this is done, the blank so formed is subjected to a furtheroperation between other suitable dies which bend the side edges of theblank down and completely close the same over the core, as shown inFigs. 8 and 9. The side edges of the blank will now abut against eachother along the inner or rear face of the hame throughout substantiallythe entire length of the hame, and the ear or extension a of the blankwill overlap the opposite side edge of the blank as shown in Fig. 10,being bent around the same by the forming dies so as to hold the sideedges together at this end of the hame. This overlapping ear also formsan additional thickness of metal to which the loop for the hame strapcan be secured as hereinafter explained. The blank with its core now hasthe form in cross-section of the completed hame but is straightthroughout its length. It is now necessary to bend the blank and itscore lengthwise to the shape of a completed hame and this is done bymeans of curved dies C C, which engage the blank adjacent to itsopposite ends and bend the same into proper shape. The kerfs Z) in theside edges of the wooden core permit the core to be readily bentlengthwise by these dies with out splitting, breaking or undulystraining the material. This finishes the forming operations and thehame has now the shape of a wooden hame. It only remains for thetrimmings to be attached thereto to form the completed hame. Thesetrimmings may be of any suitable kind and in the hame shown, consist ofthe ball cap D which fits over the upper end of the hame, the top loopstaple E with its loop ring 6, the line ring F, the draft staple Grcarrying the usual back strap ring H, and the wear leather I secured tothe inner or rear face of the hame opposite to the draft staple. Theline ring F and the draft staple G are seceured to the hame by studs 7"and g, respectively, which extend through the body of the hame and areriveted on the opposite side thereof. The top loop staple E is securedto the hame by screws 6 arranged in the opposite ends thereof, whichextend through holes in the metal shell of the hame and engage in thewooden core thereof. The wear leather T is secured to the inner or rearface of the hame by suitable tacks or screws 2' which extend through heholes a and en gage in the wooden core. The holes for the studs andother fastening means for the trimmings can be quickly and easilypunched in the hame by an ordinary press shear punch as the wooden coreforms a backing for the metal so that no dies are required for thispurpose. The trimmings can thus be easily attached to the hame.

The attachment employed for the hame strap in the construction shown,comprises a U-shaped attaching member K which straddles the end of thehame and is secured thereto by a. bolt or rivet K: which eX- tendstransversely through the hame, passing through the overlapping ear a andthe part which it overlaps. This double thickness of metal serves tohold the bolt securely in place and the bolt in turn secures theoverlapping edges together and holds them in this position.

hile wood is preferred for forming the core of the hame, undoubtedlysome other material could be found which would be suitable for thispurpose and it is not intended that this invention should be limited towood alone.

The core serves to stifi'en and strengthen the hame and facilitates theformation thereof and enables the hame to be shaped with a greaternicety. It also enables the trimmings to be more quickly and easilysecured to the hame and affords a securing means for the tacks andscrews which are used for attaching the wear leather and the top loopstaple to the hame. By employing a straight core and bending the coreafter it has been placed in the blank, when the blank is bent, theexpense of manufacture is materially lessened as the core, beingstraight, can be easily turned and the same dies operate in a singleoperation to bend the metal shell and the core.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of making hames consisting in bending a sheet metal blankinto substantially trough shaped form, placing in said trough shapedblank a permanent core having substantially the desired cross sectionalshape and length of the finished hame, closing the trough shaped blankaround said core so that the edges of the blank abut in a jointextending longitudinally of the flat back of the hame, and then bendingsaid blank with its core, transversely of the flat back to give thedesired curvature to the hame.

2. The method of making hames consisting in forming a sheet metal troughshaped blank with holes upon opposite sides thereof, placing in saidblank a permanent core having a substantially fiat back, closing thetrough shaped blank around said core so that the edges of the blank abutin a joint extending longitudinally of the flat back, and extending adraft appliance attaching means through said holes upon one side of saidjoint, through the core and through the holes upon the other side ofsaid joint.

3. The method of making hames from a single piece of sheet metal whichconsists in bending the sheet metal blank into substantially straighttrough shape, placing in said trough shaped blank a straight wooden corehaving substantially the desired cross sectional shape of the hame, witha flat back and provided between its ends with transverse kerfs, closingthe trough shaped blank around said core so that the edges abut in ajoint extending longitudinally of the flat back, and then bendin saidblank with its core transversely of the flat back to give the desiredcurvature to the hame.

4:. The method of makin'ghames which consists in cutting a sheet metalblank with a laterally projecting edge portion at one end, bending theblank into substantially trough shape, placing in said trough shapedblank a permanent core having substantially the desired cross sectionalarea of the finished hame, bending the edges of the trough shaped blankdown upon said core to inclose the same and in such a manner that theedges of the blank abut in a joint 15 extending longitudinally of thehame, with the said laterally projecting edge portion overlapping theopposite edge and partially embracing the end of the blank, securing ahame strap member to said end of the blank by means extending throughthe blank, the core and said overlapping portion, and bending said blankwith its core to give the de sired curvature to the hame.

Witness my hand, this 12th day of July, 1912.

CHARLES L. WIEDRIOH.

Witnesses GILBERT T. SUGDEN, R. P. CARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each; by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents,

' Washington, D. G.

